The Ray L. Kessler Endowed Scholarship was established with The Foundation at MCCC by Jefferson High School alumni to honor former longtime high school principal Ray Kessler.
Mr. Kessler was a beloved educator at Jefferson Public Schools for 36 years, with the majority of those years as the high school principal. As a husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather, principal, and friend Ray Kessler was a champion for those with a will to achieve their greatest potential, be that a troubled child, a student, a colleague, or a friend.
He was also a hot piano player. One of his favorite tunes was the 1930's hit "Please Don't Talk About Me When I'm Gone." The humility that the song implies was all about Ray Kessler. He avoided the spotlight, and taught his kids, "If you are really good, you don't have to tell anybody."
On March 9, 2015, Clark Greene (Jefferson High School class of 1964) and Jack Mabe (Jefferson High School class of 1968) created the Ray L Kessler Scholarship at MCCC.
On February 16, 2018 Ray passed away, and the scholarship created in his honor now stands as a tribute to his memory and legacy.
On December 3, 2019 Ray's wife Betty passed away. Memorial donations to the Kessler scholarship can be made in Betty's honor by adding special instructions on the donate page after you have indicated the gift amount. Betty Kessler's obituary can be read here.
A listing of the past recipients of the Ray L. Kessler Scholarship can be viewed here.
Adapted from the obituary published in Monroe News on Feb. 18, 2018. The full obituary can be found here.